1. 1
PreCalculus
Math 150 -- Section 20190
Focusing on Students Interested in Pursuing Degrees in
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Syllabus
Summer 2013
Instructor: Patty George
Office: PST 209
Phone: 562-860-2451 X2670
email: pgeorge@cerritos.edu
Text: Precalculus: Graphs and Models, third edition, Barnett, Ziegler, Byleen, Sobecki, McGraw-Hill
Higher Education, New York, 2009.
Class Meetings: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 4:00 – 6:50 PM in PST 237
Prerequisite: Trigonometry (Math 140 at Cerritos College or an equivalent course) with grade of C, credit, or
higher is the prerequisite for Math 150. Entering students may also meet the prerequisite with a satisfactory
score on the Calculus Readiness Exam.
Materials
Three-ring Loose-leaf Notebook: You are required to keep a three-ring loose-leaf
notebook containing this syllabus with all class notes, worksheets, quizzes, and tests.
Homework Journal: Homework will be kept in a separate journal. Each homework
assignment must be neatly labeled and contain both the statement and the solution of the
problem. Each time the homework journal is collected all assignments -- including those
already collected -- must be contained in the journal otherwise you will not receive full credit.
Graphing Calculator: You must have a graphing calculator, graph paper and a ruler to use
during class. In addition to these, you may be required to purchase other stationery supplies
to complete class projects or homework. The TI – 83, TI – 83 Plus, or TI – 84 are the
calculators strongly recommended for this class. The TI - 89 and TI - 90 are powerful
and useful calculators, but may not always be allowed for use on exams. You may not use
calculators that are noisy. You may not use a cell phone as a calculator. You may not use
devices with Internet access during class unless requested to do so by the instructor.
Internet Communication: You must have access to a computer in order to download
materials that will be used for lecture support, homework, tests and quizzes. If you do not
have computer access at home, computers are available in the CAI lab at the Learning
Resources Center. You are responsible for organizing your time so that you can access
computers and the library during the hours these are open. Materials and communications
will be available through TalonNet. Make sure you have a valid email address.

2. 2
Grading: Your grade will be determined using a percentage system. The way the percentage points are
distributed is described below.
The final grade in the course is determined by rounding the accumulated weighted percentage to the nearest
whole number and then by using the following scale. The percentage points on the left correspond to the
letter grade on the right.
The grading system is not competitive. Although you are not allowed to help each other on tests nor on
most quizzes, you should be working with other students on your homework. Exchange phone numbers
and email addresses with other students early in the term and meet with your fellow students frequently to
discuss homework problems and questions concerning the lecture. You will find that you will understand
the concepts better if you discuss them with your colleagues. Learn to express your ideas about
mathematics by helping others and by listening to the way others express ideas.
Quizzes: Short quizzes will be given periodically. The first quiz will be Wednesday. There may also be
several take-home quizzes, or quiz grades based on group work done in class. The number of graded
quizzes given is up to the discretion of the instructor. A student who comes to class late or leaves early will
not be given credit for the quiz administered on that day. No make-up quizzes will be given.
Homework: The homework journal should contain all problems assigned. It will be evaluated
periodically during class time -- usually on Thursdays. You should keep up on all homework assignments.
Even though the work may not be collected every day, you are expected to do homework daily. The math
instructor may call for homework to be evaluated at any time. While test grades in the course will be
private, homework grades are not private. Other students in the class will be evaluating your homework
journals. If you do not feel comfortable having your homework evaluated or edited by your colleagues, do
not take this class.
Quizzes, Homework, and
Surveys
20%
Tests 40%
Class Presentation 10%
Final Exam 30%
90 - 100% A
80 – 89% B
70 – 79% C
60 – 69% D
Below 60% F

3. 3
You are keeping the homework for your benefit. All problems must be stated clearly. You must show
your work. If the statements of the exercises, the work, and the solutions are not clearly stated, you
will not receive credit.
No credit will be given for work that looks like it has been copied from another source.
Surveys: Students will also be required to complete several surveys this semester.
Tests: All tests are cumulative. Two tests will be given prior to the final exam. These tests will cover
material from math lectures, homework, worksheets and other assignments. Thoroughly review the lecture,
homework and quizzes prior to the test days. Use your homework journal and textbook as well as previous
tests and quizzes to help you prepare.
Class Presentation: Students will create and deliver group presentations to the class.
Final Exam: Wednesday, August 7, 4:00 PM
Final Homework Journal Evaluation: Thursday, August 8, 4:00 PM
Attendance: Success in this class depends on your regular participation and attendance. Students who do
not regularly attend may be dropped from this class or may receive a failing grade. Any student absent
during the two weeks may be dropped from the class to allow other students to add. On the third
absence, you may either be dropped or be given a failing grade for the class. Ultimately, it is the
student’s responsibility to drop the class to avoid a failing grade. If a student is absent, that student is
expected to get notes and assignments from another student in the class. The math instructor will only
review lecture material with a student who has been absent if the student has already gotten notes
from a classmate and reviewed those notes. Trade phone numbers and email addresses with your
colleagues!
Cell phones, beepers and headphones: The use of cell phones, beepers, and headphones is disruptive to
a classroom learning environment. You must turn off your cell phones and beepers, and remove your
headphones, when you are in the classroom. Do not leave the class during lecture to take a call. This is
disruptive. Any person disrupting the class will be dropped from the class. Any student using their cell
phone during class will be asked to leave and counted absent. Cell phones may not be used as calculators.
Disruptive Behavior: Any student disrupting the class will be asked to leave and will be counted absent.
Disabilities: If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are
encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Disabled Student Programs and Services at (562) 860-
2451 ext. 2335, as early as possible in the term.

4. 4
Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy
from Cerritos College Student Services/Policies
Your instructors are eager to help you succeed in your studies at Cerritos College. But success means more than just
receiving a passing grade in a course. Success means that you have mastered the course content so that you may use
that knowledge in the future, either to be successful on a job, or to continue on with your education in advanced classes.
Your success depends on a combination of that skill and knowledge of your instructors, and your hard work. You will
reach your future goals only if you gain new knowledge form every course you take. That knowledge becomes yours,
and can be used by you, only if it is gained through your own personal efforts. Receiving a grade in a course, without
acquiring the knowledge that goes with it, diminishes your chances for future success.
While in College, you are also shaping the principles which will guide you throughout the rest of your life. Ethical
behavior and integrity are a vital part of those principles. A reputation for honesty says more about you, and is more
highly prized, that simply your academic skills.
For that reason, academic honesty is taken very seriously by the Cerritos College faculty. The following guidelines
have been prepared so that you will understand what is expected of you in maintaining academic honesty.
Academic Dishonesty is normally to be dealt with as an academic action by the instructor, reflected in the student’s
grade in the particular course, rather than through college disciplinary procedures. No specific departmental, divisional
or institutional procedures are establishes for academic dishonesty other than the normal process for review and appeal
of an instructor’s grading procedures.
Academic Dishonesty is defined as an act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for work by the use of any
dishonest, deceptive or fraudulent means. Examples of academic dishonesty would include, but not be limited to the
following:
· Copying, either in part or in whole, from another’s test or examination;
· Discussion of answers or ideas relating to the answers, on examination or test when such discussion is
prohibited by the instructor;
· Obtaining copies of an exam without the permission of the instructor;
· Using notes, "Cheating sheets," or otherwise utilizing information or devices not considered appropriate
under the prescribed test conditions;
· Altering a grade of interfering with the grading procedures in any course;
· Allowing someone other than the officially enrolled student to represent the same;
· Plagiarism, which is defined as the act of taking the ideas, words or specific substantive material of another
and offering them as one’s own without giving credit to the source.
Options may be taken by the faculty member to the extent that the faculty member considers cheating or plagiarism to
manifest the student’s lack of scholarship or to reflect on the student’s lack of academic performance in the course. One
or more of the following options are available to the faculty member who suspects a student has been cheating or
plagiarizing;
1. Review-no action.
2. An oral reprimand with emphasis on counseling toward prevention of further occurrences.
3. A requirement that work repeated.
4. A reduction of the grade earned on the specific work in question, including the possibility of no credit for
the work.
5. A reduction of the course grade as a result of item 4 above, including the possibility of a failing grade for
the course.
6. Referral to the Office of Judicial Affairs for further administrative action, such as suspension or expulsion.
The statement above has been copied from the web site: http://cms.cerritos.edu/academic-affairs/academic-honesty.

5. 5
Math 150
Tentative List of Topics
Lecture
Date
Topic
Read each section prior to
doing the assigned
exercises.
July 1
The Real Number System
Properties of Real Numbers
Appendix A1
July 2
Equivalence Relations and Order
Solving Equations and Inequalities
The Coordinate Plane
Absolute Value
Square Roots
Appendix B1
July 3
Quiz 1
The Pythagorean Theorem
Distance Formula
Midpoint Formula
Circles
Graphing Lines and
Circles on the
Calculator
Appendix B2 and B3
Section 1.1
July 4 Have a Happy Fourth of July!
July 8
Functions
Graphs of Functions
Sections 1.2 and 1.3
Homework Assignment 1
July 9
Quiz 2
Transformations of Functions
Operations on Functions
Inverse Functions
Sections 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6
July 10
Rates of Change
Techniques of Setting Up and Solving
Applied Problems
Sections 2.1 and 2.2
Bring your
Calculator!!
!

6. 6
July 11
Review
Homework Assignment 2
July 15 Test 1
July 16
Quadratic Functions
Complex Numbers
Quadratic Equations
Sections 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5
July 17
Quiz 3
Solving Equations
Solving Inequalities
Sections 2.6 and 2.7
July 18
Polynomial Functions
Factoring Polynomials
Remainder Theorem
Factor Theorem
Synthetic Division
Appendix A5
Sections 3.1 and 3.2
Homework Assignment 3
July 22
Rational Root Theorem
Conjugate Roots Theorem
Rational Functions
Polynomial and Rational Inequalities
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
Complete Factorization Theorem
Sections 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5
July 23
Quiz 4
Exponential Functions
Logarithmic Functions
Solutions to Exponential and Logarithmic
Functions
Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4
July 24
Modeling Functions Using Polynomial,
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Basic Review of Trigonometric Functions
Section 4.5, 5.1, and 5.2
Study lecture, text
and homework!

7. 7
July 25
Review
Homework Assignment 4
July 29 Test 2
July 30
Systems of Linear Equations in Two
Variables
Systems of Linear Equations in Three
Variables
Systems of Linear Inequalities
Sections 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3
July 31
Quiz 5
Sequences and Series
Mathematical Induction
Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
Sections 10.1, 10.2, and 10.3
Aug 1
Multiplication Principle, Permutations
and Combinations
Binomial Theorem
Sections 10.4, 10.5, and 10.6
Homework Assignment 5
Aug 5
Quiz 6
Conic Sections Sections 11.1, 11.2, and 11.3
Aug 6
Review
Homework Assignment 6
Aug 7 Final Exam Good Luck!!!
Aug 8 Final Homework Journal
Note: Please have homework finished by the above dates. Evaluation of the homework
will be done in class but the evaluation may take place at a later date.
Study lecture, text
and homework!
Study lecture, text
and homework!

8. 8
Math 150
Lecture Notebook
and
Homework Journal Organization
Organize your work in a 2 - inch, 3 - ring binder. There should be no loose pages in
pockets. Divide your notebook into three sections and label each section. Use the
following organization. Part III may be removed on the days that the notebook is
evaluated by your classmates.
Part I: Course and Lecture
• Title Page
o Your name
o Course name and section
o Instructor name
o Semester
• Syllabus
• Tentative Schedule of Topics
• Lecture Notebook and Homework Journal Organization
• Forming Study Groups
• Math Classroom Directory
• i-Falcon Expectations for Academic Success
• Lecture Notes and Related Handouts
o Date each page
o Number each page
Part II: Homework Journal
• Homework evaluation for each assignment
• Homework for each assignment
o Homework should be in chronological order.
o State each item clearly
o Show all of your work
 Use equal signs between equivalent expressions.
 All work must be neat and clearly organized.
o Clearly state the solution to all application problems in complete English sentences.
Part III: Quizzes, Tests and Other Material for Review from Math 150
• Quizzes
• Tests
• Test Corrections
• Test Preparation Materials
• Other

9. 9
Math 150
Forming Study Groups
Learning to work effectively in groups is important for the student’s future professional
and personal life. Most careers require people to communicate with others verbally – in writing
and orally. Professionals are required to describe orders, write instructions for a process, read and
follow directions, and so on. They are required to clearly explain what they do and how they do
it to their coworkers, supervisors and clients.
Students who want to become professionals begin practicing communication skills while
in school. To prepare for lectures, complete class assignments and to work on projects,
successful students form study groups early in the semester, and meet regularly with their group
members. While this may seem time consuming at first, in the long run forming study groups
saves time.
To form a study group, suggest a time and a place to meet regularly. There are many
good places to study on campus. There are study group rooms available in the library and in the
learning resource center. There are also places to study in the student center. You may find it
easier to meet off campus at a library, coffee shop or at a student home. Find a good location and
meet there frequently. If you have difficulty getting to the meeting group location, practice
meeting with others using technology such as Skype or Facebook.
In study groups, students help each other understand the lecture material. Students ask
one other about key concepts and vocabulary encountered in the lecture and reading. When
discussing the material, students working in study groups use the newly learned terms to deepen
their understanding of the material and to practice using the new vocabulary appropriately.
Students often do homework while working in study groups. Working together on
homework does not mean “copying” work from another student. “Copying” work and turning it
in as if it were your own work is considered plagiarism. This behavior can result in dismissal
from college. However, it is helpful to work with other students and compare homework
solutions. Listening to the way another student has solved a problem can be useful in learning
new strategies for problem solving. When comparing homework, students in study groups should
practice explaining their problem solving process by writing the work down and saying it out
loud.
Create a positive and creative environment for cooperative learning. The most important
quality of a study group is to use it to support yourself in learning and in demonstrating what you
have learned. By helping others in your group be successful, you are supporting your own
success. Make sure you create an encouraging and supportive atmosphere so that everyone can
benefit from the success of the group.